Stray Dog of Anime: The Films of Mamoru Oshii

The international success of Japanese animation films at the box office over the past two decades can largely be put down to the work of two men: Academy Award-winning director Hayao Miyazaki and the self-proclaimed “stray dog of anime,” Mamoru Oshii.

Despite the accolades Oshii has received over the years, the contrary director has largely eschewed the limelight, preferring instead to follow his own cinematic vision.

In this new edition of his in-depth 2004 work, author Brian Ruh examines 11 of Oshii’s major films, adding his most recent releases — “The Sky Crawlers” (2008) and “Assault Girls” (2009) — to the list. The result is a fascinating look at a filmmaker who exemplifies the breadth and complexities of modern Japanese cinema.